The Weekend Lifestyler, September 22nd 2023

A voice with a song

Maggie Burke moved to Mangawhai with her family last year, bringing her musical talent with her. Inspired by her father’s musical instruments, as a drummer, Maggie has enjoyed playing in bands and recently started a band called IOU at Otamatea High School. She also entered

her original song Chocolate & Backstreets into the Youthtown Songwriting competition and was chosen to have her song recorded and released on Spotify. At 16 years old, Maggie is looking forward to a possible future in the music industry.

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Inspiring junior athletes

u by Ann van Engelen

Ruakākā resident Kirsty Halliday is encouraging families with young children of all abilities to join Junior Athletics Whangārei as a way to build confidence in their athletic ability.

p Families with children from five years old of all abilities are invited to the upcoming junior athletics track and field open day

“Our children’s love for sports should be nourished from a young age, no matter their abilities,” says the Whangārei Athletics Club junior coordinator Kirsty.

“We all benefit from the joy that sports brings into one’s life. This year, we have support from Para Athletics NZ. This means we can train our coaches to support and encourage children with disabilities to participate and compete in track and field events with their friends.

“Although we adapted the athletics programme in the past, we weren’t able to offer a programme to support inclusiveness of all abilities in Northland until now, and I’m so excited. Para Athletics will help support children

“We also plan to put ‘fun’ back into the fun-damentals of athletics and aim to take away the barriers, modify and adapt our environment to support children with all abilities to help grow their love for athletics.

“When children with disabilities join in, able-bodied children learn to interact and communicate with them better. Para Athletics NZ giving us the resources to offset the inclusive atmosphere means we’ll be able to take the juniors to the Colgate Games in January.

“Whangārei Athletics Club is the only club in Northland now, so everyone travels here, and we’re looking forward to growing — it’s a very special opportunity.

with disabilities, and that’s great for us because sports should be for everybody, and I’m excited to have a mixture of kids attending.

“Understanding each person and their abilities and disabilities is important, as is modifying the activities to be inclusive of all. Inclusion, to us, means being accepted, valued and a sense of belonging and actively participating.

“All kids should enjoy athletics with their friends and gain confidence that they’ll carry with them into future sports. We plan to build a strong sense of community and relationships with each family so they have positive experiences to carry them forward into future sporting opportunities.

We’d love for our upcoming track and field open day to be shared amongst our local communities because it is such an encouraging programme for children to have.

“Being able to be so inclusive not only benefits the children with disabilities but all those around them as well.”

The track and field open day is set for Tuesday, October 10, from 4pm, at Athletics Track, Park Ave, Kensington, Whangārei.

“This is a fun afternoon for children of all abilities from five years old to give track and field a go. Our season will kick off in full from Tuesday, October 17, from 4pm, and it’ll run until the start of April.”

For more information — go to the Junior Athletics Whangārei Facebook page. ¢

A touch of Scottish

u by Ann van Engelen

The Northern Caledonian Pipe Band and friends are excited to be presenting A Scottish Bonanza at the Celtic Barn in Waipu on Saturday, September 30, at 7pm.

“This is one of our main fundraisers for the year, and we have a wide range of pipe band tunes, backing musicians, Highland dancers, and singers lined up,” says band pipe sergeant Sandy Jonker Geyer.

“Bain McGregor is our pipe major and has been involved in the band for many years. For us, these fundraisers help us to get to our grade three competitions.”

The Northern Caledonian Pipe Band attends three competitions a year.

“We go to Square Day in Palmerston North in December, then Paeroa in February for a mini tattoo and Highland Games. We play at the street parades, and some young learners play solo items.

“In March, we’re attending the national competition in Auckland at

the Onewa Road Domain, which is exciting because it is usually held in the South Island.

“Jill Mutch is our band president and does a lot to help us with funding, along with our treasurer, Grace Hack. They’re volunteers and attend every meeting as well. Jill and Grace are the backbone of keeping us together. We couldn’t do what we do without their commitment and support.

“The Scottish Bonanza will be a very fun night. People recognise tunes like Amazing Grace and the Highland Cathedral. We have a backing band with a kit drummer and bass player, and the concert band will play traditional numbers and a few upbeat sets with fast jigs, including the horn, pipes

and things because Bain loves speed. We have a beautiful vocalist singing numbers like Danny Boy, and there is also a not-so-conventional pipe band tune that will be performed. This will be the first time this well-known and much-loved song will be played in New Zealand.

“It was written by a friend of ours, and I talked him into giving us the music and arrangement. We have a competition for people to suggest the song. To enter, email sandy@enqpractice.com.

“A very special family in our band, the Moon family, Sarah, Charlotte and Amelia, are also performing. Sarah was first to join the Northland Caledonian

Pipe Band seven years ago as an adult learner piper.

“After watching her mum play, eldest daughter Charlotte fell in love with the side drum and asked to join. Shortly after, sister Amelia followed as a tenor drummer.

“Bain has been leading the Northland pipe band for most of the past 35 years. The tunes at our concert will represent a collection from his favourite list, well-known for their musicality and audience appeal.”

Tickets can be purchased at trybooking.com/nz/events/ landing/10063 or at Harcourts in Waipu. ¢

p Pipe band members Charlotte, Sarah and Amelia Moon will be performing at the Scottish Bonanza in Waipu next weekend

p Northern Caledonian Pipe Band pipe major Bain McGregor is looking forward to next weekend’s Scottish Bonanza

Reviving local connection

u by Amy Fifita

Riana Waenga and Sandy Davies are launching this year’s Wellsford Community Night Markets on October 20, starting at 4pm at the Wellsford District Community Hall.

“After Covid, we were beginning to get back into being able to meet together to support and have a whole community feel once more,” says Riana.

“There was a need for our area, and I looked at how I could logistically work that out. Before I restarted the markets, it was run by another lady who I think got too busy with commitments she had. There were no plans to keep them running, so I made the decision to do it.”

team manager and involved in the committee. The sense of community runs through our veins.

“Mum does various markets now with her creations. She runs Nga Whetū Creations, sells crystals, and creates korowai, pōtai and other crafts, and loves doing it.”

Riana started the markets again last year with her late grandmother, Marlene Funnell, and she has fond memories of their time together.

“This year, my mother, Sandy Davies, is helping me. She was born and bred in Wellsford, and she used to live in the family homestead on Davies Road.

“We grew up in Kaiwaka after moving from Wellsford. Kaiwaka has a tight community. Mum was known for her food, and rugby was a basis for that, and so was my and my siblings’ sports.

“She always came to our netball games when we played at the Wellsford Centennial Park and was an umpire,

“I grew up going to markets with her, and it was a highlight for us. It was awesome doing the market with my nana and seeing her in her element of meeting and providing for people. She had a crafts table and was a quilter and would make living books, jams, chutneys and loaves.

“Those creations were sold, and people really enjoyed what she created, and it was a joy to watch her serve her community. She has been all over the motu (island), and has run lots of

markets, and had friends with many abilities. I wanted that diversity at the Wellsford market.

“A team of local girls helped me set up the markets. My job is not to just run the markets. I’m involved in the Purpose For Youth stall as a fundraiser that runs every Friday night to raise funds to

Opononi paradise with breathtaking harbour views

support our rangitahi and the services they and their whānau need.”

Amongst the many activities at the markets will be Mr Whippy, bouncy castles and crafts, candles, food, brica-brac and organic skin care stalls. For more information, visit facebook.com/ wellsfordnightmarket. ¢

p Riana Waenga, Amelia, Marianne Cattermole (back from left) with Riana’s late nana Marlene and MacKenzie Cattermole helped restart the night markets last year

“It was awesome doing the market with my nana and seeing her in her element of meeting and providing for people”

Accolades for excellence

u by Ann van Engelen

Years of exceptional work paid off yet again for the team at Bream Bay Painting, who came away from the annual Master Painters NZ Association Awards of Excellence recently, with both of their entries winning gold awards.

The awards the team received were the Re-Work Exterior — Contemporary and the Dryden Re-work Timber Award.

“I was born in Whangārei and have lived in Bream Bay for 18 years after living in Auckland,” says company owner Clinton Wheeler.

“I love it here with my wife Sheree and our daughters Sophie and MacKenzie. I got into house painting in Canada. When I was 20 years old, I was a chef in Canada but got sick of working nights and weekends while everyone else had fun, so I took a job as a trainee painter.

“When I moved back to New Zealand in the mid to late 90s, I started my own business, and the rest is history. I’m

amazed that I still love painting. You get to listen to the radio, and your mind wanders off, and you do a nice job.”

Clinton says one of the secrets to a good paint job is definitely preparation.

“Preparation is the key. Anyone can paint, but not everyone can paint well, and I’m fussy with my staff because it’s important to do a good job. We have three staff. Kevin Hanson is my trim master — he has been with me for 13 years.

“Shaun Slatter is my all-rounder, and they call me the roller king. We do mainly private repaints of interiors and exteriors. I enjoy high-end work and love picking and choosing what work we do.”

This is the sixth lot of awards the company has taken out.

“We won our first awards in 2013. These awards were held in Christchurch and sponsored by Dulux Paints, with Wattyl and Resene involved. They’re for registered master painters throughout New Zealand with multiple categories, and my categories were because I don’t do many new builds.

“The awards are held somewhere different each year. At present, I’m working on a new build, and it’s beautiful, so I plan to enter it into next year’s awards, which will be held in Fiji. It’s fun because you catch up with all the painters that you haven’t seen for a year

from Stewart Island up to Kaitaia. We talk trade and learn what’s new.

“I’m always learning, and I am currently using a paint I’ve never used before. It’s an amazing water-based enamel that dries like a two-pot lacquer. I’m very impressed with it. At Bream Bay Painting, we’re committed to providing the highest quality finishing to our clients. We strive for perfection and use only the highest quality products.

“We’re very appreciative of our supporters for always standing by us. We couldn’t do what we do without the hard work and dedication of our amazing team who consistently deliver highquality workmanship.” ¢

p Clinton and Sheree Wheeler with Mike McRoberts at the Master Painters NZ Association Awards of Excellence

p Clinton and Shaun celebrating their award wins

The bitter and the sweet

u by Liz Clark

Everyone at some point or another has thought about having a lemon tree in the garden, and why not?

Lemon trees can be grown in large pots in a courtyard or on a sunny deck if space is an issue. They can be planted in autumn until late spring, just before the summer heat. Choose a variety to suit your taste and requirements for culinary or making lemonade and other delights to enjoy.

As with all other citrus species, lemons need nutrient-rich soil, good drainage and a pH level slightly on the acidic side. They do need some care to keep them at their best and fruiting prolifically. Choose a warm site with full sun for most of the day and sheltered from strong prevailing winds.

If planting in a pot, ensure to use terracotta rather than a glazed type. While it may require more watering, lemon and other citrus varieties do better in a terracotta pot, allowing the roots to breathe.

The soil mix should be rich in organic matter. Use a commercially available planting medium specifically for citrus trees that can be obtained from a local garden retailer or nursery. Regular watering, especially in the dry summer months, is essential to maintain the

moisture uptake in the root system. Too dry, the root system will lose the ability to take up water, and the tree will die.

The best variety for fruiting year-round is the Meyer. It’s cold-hardy, smoothskinned and full of juice, making it ideal for desserts, marinades and even lemonade. Once established, a lack of lemons for baking or flavouring fish won’t be an issue. The other two varieties are Eureka, a more traditional type and bitter, and Lemonade used for its juice.

The main pest for lemons is the lemon tree borer. Signs are holes in the branches and rapid dieback; remove any infected branches and fill the holes with an appropriate insecticide. Scale insects can be controlled with a dual-purpose commercially prepared spray or organic if preferred. If the leaves are yellowing and the tree is failing to thrive, apply a dressing of Epsom salts to correct the problem. Talk to your local garden centre about which tree best suits your requirements. ¢

Corner store of community memories

u by Amy Fifita

Ant and Jess Pedersen are saying farewell to a town they have served for almost three years and are moving on to the next banner in the Food Stuffs business.

“Jess and I are moving to Napier and will manage the New World Onekawa. We are excited and also extremely sad to say goodbye,” Kaiwaka Four Square owner Ant said.

“In life, we are a driven couple who enjoy a challenge because without that, there is no chance to become a better person. It was not the easy decision to make because we love this area and the people here.”

Ant says he has many fond memories from his time managing the shop.

“People don’t see certain milestones, but I have been fortunate to witness a young boy named Jacob grow from about 13 years old and now he is 16 years old. He is one of our chicken and chips cooks now. Leayah Buxton manned the door for us while we were in lockdown, and now she is a hugely respected staff member while she continues her schooling and sporting commitments.

“Lish and Jean were nominated as local legends in our store. Lish became a finalist and received a paid-for three-

“They all centre around people. The ones that stand out are the big community events like our free sports sessions and the annual midwinter Christmas extravaganza. Last year, we threw what some people call the greatest party the town has ever seen. We had a Christmas event in our car park, and it was so much fun.

“Then, there are the special moments with staff. We did an end-of-year staff do in our car park and got caterers in, and we all sat gathered together eating food.

day trip to Blenheim for the Four Square conference and award evening.

“The store has developed since we have carried the torch from Paula and Greg Jaques, and our team has played a massive part. I have seen the amazing growth of people who have become respected leaders in the business because of what they do to serve and feed people weekly.”

Ben and Molly Steiner are taking charge of the shop in October.

“Molly is coming in from a similar store, and she understands how

important communities are, too. She will do an excellent job with this amazing team and town. I am sincerely grateful and have a big aroha for our past and

present workers and the people of Kaiwaka for making the last few years special. I hope we can get up here in the future so we can connect again.”

p Ant says that he and Jess Pedersen have loved their time spent in Kaiwaka and that all of their cherished memories surround people

“Lish and Jean were nominated as local legends in our store”

Keys to the kingdom

u by Amy Fifita

Everyone needs security, and with that comes the world of locksmithing with all of its tricks of making a home safe and accessible.

In going through the frequently asked questions of locksmithing sites, many people have queries about the scope that the tradespeople can do aside from locks and keys. The trade has evolved since its advent in ancient times.

The vast art of unlocking covers many tasks, from making keys to cracking safes. Their expertise expands from mobile services to intricate expertise in deciphering sealed doorways. With this occupation comes a high level of trust; they have the intelligence and know-how to get into the most secure areas.

Curious and practical individuals work out the puzzles or create a labyrinth for a particular key to open. People require locksmiths for various reasons. There

are some specialist roles for masters of the job that are useful in emergency situations for commercial, residential, industrial and automotive needs.

As with any industry, there are the ‘greats’ that have made their way into the spotlight, such as Harry Houdini. Since the lock’s creation, technology has driven the profession forward into the era of modern smart and keypad systems. That is a more secure idea than their replicated counterparts.

Another common question is whether they can make a key from a lock. The

answer is yes, they can, and if you have the number, they can do what they call cut to code. Another option is to recode the lock and craft a new key providing the occupant of the house with peace of mind. A safer option may be to get the latches changed on the house, car or area.

Sometimes, they may need the customer to provide them with a photo of the seal or key. That equips them with the knowledge to bring the necessary tools to the site to give the occupant access or secure a space. ¢

p Time has shown an evolution of locks and keys from crafted antique designs to the modern digital code feature

Family business celebrate

u by Ann van Engelen

The team at Mangawhai Tyres is marking 20 years of service to the community

and suppliers for their support.

“In September 2003, there stood a little garage on Molesworth Drive, operating as a one-man band identifying as Mangawhai Tyres owned by a longtime local Eric Axon, also known as Bogsy,” says owner Karen Stewart.

“My husband Jeff and I owned the Firestone tyre shop in Wellsford and saw this for sale, so we decided to buy it.”

The Stewarts owned both businesses for three years with the help of their nephew before their son Sterl joined the company.

“Our nephew returned to Wellsford, and his parents brought that shop. Over time, we gradually employed other people, and now, including Sterl and Jeff, we have four tyre fitters and our office admin lady Bee.

“We are an independent tyre service and can source any tyre people need, including pushchairs to road scrapers and everything in between.

“Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen a lot change in the area with the town growing. When we took over we were selling about 10 tyres a week and, at present, we sell more than 100 a week. We’re pleased new people have come to

town because they have helped all local businesses grow.

“We couldn’t have done the past 20 years without everyone who uses or has used our services. We’re very thankful to all of our customers, long-standing and new, for supporting our small family business. Some people have been with us since the beginning and, as a team, we’re so incredibly humbled by the ongoing, continued support. We’re also grateful to our wide range of tyre suppliers.

Karen says their incredible team of tyre technicians has made the business what it is today.

“Our staff have been amazing, and it’s been a pleasure and honour to have them by our side. Tyre Max is our main supplier for Maxxis Tyres, and they have been incredible. We find them to be a great firm to work with, but we can source any brand of tyre people like. To us, Maxxis tyres are good quality, and depending on the vehicle you put them on, they’re a long-wearing tyre.

“There are many factors when choosing tyres. A lot depends on which tyres you have, the roads you travel on, the kilometres you drive, and our team can give people information on what’s suitable for their vehicle and needs.

“While building the business and our clientele, Jeff and Sterl have sweated and grazed some skin together to have the thriving success story that we have today, and we are thankful to everyone involved for helping us to continue our successful business.” ¢

p Jeff and Sterl with their team at Mangawhai Tyres celebrating 20 years in business

u by Andy Bryenton

Glass surrounds our modern homes, letting in light and allowing for a clear view of the scenery, but it hasn’t always been this way.

Legend has it that window panes were first produced on the island of Murano, home of the secretive guild of the Venetian glassblowers. These artisans were free men of the city who carefully guarded their secrets and produced bottles, vases and ornaments worth almost as much as gold.

At the time, glass windows were of the kind often seen in pictures of old English taverns. Pebbled, tiny slabs, bubbled thick and thin, let in light, but only barely. Their frames were intricate latticeworks of wood, which took the careful attention of a craftsperson to build.

It was late in the 1500s that, apocryphally, a happy accident on the island of Murano caused the advent of modern windows. A glassblower, working with the finest clear glass to craft a large bottle, was called away from his work by a master of the guild. His work, heated by the furnace, dripped from the rod it was being shaped upon and dripped down as liquid to coat a ceramic tile. When it pooled across the hot tile, it became a flat pane. Though the glassblower must have cursed his bad luck when he returned to his task to find it ruined, the pane finally cooled

and separated, creating a bigger, flatter panel of glass than any previously seen.

The next century or more was spent trying to replicate this accident, with varying degrees of success, especially because large panels of flat glass dyed in bright colours were in huge demand from church builders looking to make ever more impressive stained-glass windows. Good window panes were hit and miss and so valuable that those who could afford them often took them down and stored them away when they were not in use.

The biggest development in glazing came in 1848, when engineer Henry Bessemer thought of floating molten glass over a thin layer of molten metal. Liquified tin was found to produce a great bed for window panes, which could be poured on top and remained hot due to the red-hot metal, allowing the glass to settle into an even sheet with no bubbles or impurities. Suddenly, glass could be made in huge quantities, and this revolutionised everything from home design to shopping and gardening.

Now, shop windows could display merchants’ wares to passersby in the

street, and greenhouses could cultivate out-ofseason or tropical foods. It wasn’t long before the great glass monuments of the Victorian era, such as Queen Victoria’s Crystal Palace and the great railway stations of Isambard Brunel, showed the world what glass could do.

p Glassblowers from the Venetian island of Murano were the first to craft proper window panes, but the cost was out of the reach of all but kings and aristocrats

A voice with a song

u by Ann van Engelen

Otamatea High School Year 11 student Maggie Burke is celebrating winning a recording spot in the recent national Youthtown Songwriting Competition and having her song Chocolate & Backstreets released on Spotify.

“I grew up in Westmere, Auckland, and went to St Mary’s School until last year when we moved to Mangawhai,” says Maggie.

“I’m 16 years old and have always liked music. My dad played the drums in his 20s, and for his 50th, his mate brought him an electric drum kit, and I started messing around with it and really like playing.”

“I played the drums for the band and loved it. I was at Ponsonby Intermediate, and when I started at St Mary’s, our group broke up, and I joined the concert band and the symphonic band. It was a fun, classical insight into music that I’d never had before.”

I left the band and recently started a new band at Otamatea High School called IOU. We performed recently at the school talent show and came second, which we are excited about because it was our first performance.

In Year 7, Maggie joined a friend’s band, and they explored music together.

“Although I’ve never had singing lessons, I’ve been in school choirs where we had a band mentor, Joe Lonie, who was the bass player from the band Super Groove. That’s the first time I met a mentor. We played songs by the Arctic Monkeys, the Ramones and Weezer — their styles are rock and chilled types of music.

In Year 10 Maggie played percussion in the school jazz band. “It was a great experience to play the full drum kit after a few years of playing the triangle. Throughout Year 10, I was in a band called No Smoking after 3.15, and we recorded a song, Never Ever. That was the first time I’d been in a recording studio, and Christian Tjandrawinata, a producer at Parachute Studios in Auckland, was super encouraging.

“I did a bunch of gigs with different bands and really loved performing live. A few months after moving to Mangawhai,

“I also work at Bennetts Cafe, which I enjoy. Everyone there is very lovely, and I have made some good friends. It’s a great environment to work in. I wrote a song called Chocolate & Backstreets, which is about everything I’ve observed in life. The lyrics are a bit random, but the chocolate almost represents moving to Mangawhai, my life changes and working at Bennetts. The back streets are life, the past, living in Westmere, walking the streets with my friends, riding lime scooters and eating chocolate.

“I decided to enter Chocolate & Backstreets into the Youthtown

“My family are very musical and come to support all the gigs that I do”

p Maggie enjoys time in the family garden on a regular basis

Songwriting competition because they do super cool things. If chosen, you get a free recording studio time slot, and I was one of 45 people selected this year.

“On the Youthtown album, I was selected fifth on the album. They make multiple albums to fit everyone in, and I’m really pleased to be on the first volume. My single is being released this week on Spotify.

“Entering the competition was exciting. When my mum saw I had won a spot, she didn’t want to say anything, she said, oh, and I thought something was wrong. I went over, and she was looking at my name, and I screamed in delight and cried from the shock.

“It was a normal morning with us going to the market, and then boof, there it was. I play the drums and guitar and write songs every day. I always carry a songbook on me because you never know when you are going to get an idea to write down.

“I recorded Chocolate & Backstreets with producer Christian, and Joe, my

old band mentor, played bass. My good mate Ted Pitches plays electric guitar. Ryan Carroll, my drum teacher from The Auckland Drum School taught me everything I know. I wouldn’t care for music as much as I do if it wasn’t for Ryan. He’s one of my best friends now.

“Otamatea High School is the third high school I’ve been to and I love it. It’s definitely my favourite. It’s more low-key but not so low-key that you can mess around. I enjoy what I learn in class, am more than happy to do my homework, and they have a good music department.

“There are about 10 people in Year 11 level one NCEA music, and we are all pretty close and talk a lot about music. Mr Stevenson, the music teacher, is super supportive and a really great teacher. I think I definitely want to study music.

“My family are very musical and come to support all the gigs that I do. I would like to pursue a career, but I am not sure what aspect. Drumming live for Harry Styles sounds pretty cool, but I’d drum

for anyone on tour. I practise after school and try and get in three to four hours a week on the drum kit and at school as well.

“It’s good fun and keeps me busy. I also take media studies, which is my favourite subject, and this year, we made horror short films, which was fun. We talked about horror and other movies, I think because horror movies are quite hard to make. So we gave it a crack, and next year, we get to make documentaries like Modern Family or The Office. I take art as well.

“I love living in Mangawhai — it’s a big change. At first, I was very scared after living in the city my whole life and moving completely out of that lifestyle was quite weird. I’ve learned to really love it here and am grateful for the move as I have made a lot of friendships and met a lot of new people.

“I have two siblings, both living in Wellington. My sister Luciella is in her fifth and final year of law, and my brother Oscar is doing landscaping. They both

enjoy what they do, and when they come here, we have fun on the pool table, and their mates all come up for Northern Bass music festival.

“My mum is a copywriter, and dad is a graphic designer. I’ll carry on working at Bennetts and make money. My parents are amazing. Our property is an old olive farm, and when they bought the house, they let me have my own music room.

“I got the job at Bennetts to deck out the room and plan to buy more music equipment in the future. The Chocolate & Backstreets song lyrics say, ‘Started working at the chocolate factory to make a buck’, and that’s why.”

Maggie’s parents say they are really proud of their daughter.

“She is very courageous and brave, considering she had to uproot from her city life and start at a rural school. Maggie has shown a lot of determination, and when she performs, people say they can’t take their eyes off her drumming. We want to do everything we can to help her follow her passion.” ¢

“It’s good fun and keeps me busy. I also take media studies, which is my favourite subject, and this year, we made horror short films, which was fun”

p The crew at Bennetts Cafe in Mangawhai have become good friends to Maggie

p Maggie’s band IOU performed together at Otamatea High School’s recent talent quest

p A trip to Melbourne, Australia, gave Maggie musical inspiration

p Otamatea High School student Maggie Burke can often be found practising drums

Calling writers

u by Ann van Engelen

Writer Sue Barker has lived in Waipu for six years and delights in encouraging people to write short stories, also known as flash fiction.

“I have been involved in writing since I moved here and joined the Whangārei Library 3.30 Flash Fiction Writers Group because I wanted to learn to write,” says anthology committee member Sue.

“We are currently calling for submissions for our second anthology, which will be published in November 2023. I hadn’t written prior to joining the group, and what I enjoy is there are a lot of competitions throughout New Zealand and the world, and that makes writing exciting.”

Sue entered her first competition at the Whangārei library in the year 2000 and won.

“Flash fiction is short writing, usually of 100, 250 or 300 words in total. Winning really inspired me to keep

writing and support others in their writing adventures. We celebrated Flash Fiction Day on June 22 and had several people read who were long and shortlisted for the national competition.

“We also celebrated Ruawai College head girl Emma Philips award she received for her writing in the Young Person’s competition. Emma was shortlisted and received highly commended in the international competition. She is a very talented young lady.

“I think people enjoy the challenge of flash fiction because you have to have the beginning, middle and end with concise writing. If you’re one word over in competitions — you are disqualified.

We’ve seen some very beautiful work come in.

“We published our first anthology in 2021 and have decided to produce our second this year with the theme Changing Landscapes. People are encouraged to look at climate change, global warming and weather patterns but can interpret the topic as they wish. We’ve received a lovely story presented with the changing landscape of the relationship between two people.

“The experience and discipline of entering these competitions for the first time can be very rewarding. If the judges choose your work, seeing yourself in print is very encouraging.

“We would love younger writers to submit work this time because we have run a few workshops, and the students who have attended have shown incredible talent. We are asking Northland writers, new, experienced, young and mature to submit their best micro-writing, 100 words or less, and flash fiction up to 300 words by September 30.

“Each person can submit one or two entries. The anthology is for people from the whole of Northland. Our group has a saying: ‘Flash fiction because life is short and so is some of the best story writing’. To enter, go to the Whangārei Central Library website for more details.”

p Writers Sherryl Clark and Deborah Jowitt discuss cover designs for the anthology Changing Landscapes

p The first anthology the Whangārei Library 3.30 Flash Fiction Writers Group published in 2021

PUZZLE TIME

Jumbo crossword

Depressed (4)

Short skirt (4)

Sat for a painter (5)

At unease (anag)(8)

Drink sachet (6)

cover (10)

Sudoku

ACROSS: 1 Forceps, 4 Hereditary, 9 Shifted, 13 Dads, 14 Uranus, 15 Learns, 16 Alerted, 19 Pharmacist, 20 Timeworn, 21 Surge, 24 Stocks, 25 Errand, 27 Amsterdam, 32 Escapade, 33 Stroll, 34 Clamour, 38 Toreador, 39 Minuet, 40 Roam, 41 Snail, 42 Croak, 45 Ghost of a chance, 52 Sheet, 55 Admit, 56 Silo, 57 Twinge, 58 Bull’s-eye, 61 Economy, 62 Aphids, 63 Heirloom, 66 Brickwork, 68 Reared, 69 Gentle, 73 Tabby, 74 Enormous, 76 Heightened, 81 Flyleaf, 82 Aghast, 83 Orphan, 84 Saga, 85 Apparel, 86 Stationary, 87 Abandon.

Fill

DOWN: 1 Fed up, 2 Radiator, 3 Spruce, 4 Hunts, 5 Rash, 6 Deleted, 7 Trauma, 8 Renew, 10 Held, 11 Formula, 12 Emerge, 17 Smokestack, 18 Crate, 22 Facelift, 23 Drill, 24 Sceptic, 26 Real, 28 Malaria, 29 Sarong, 30 Critic, 31 Futile, 33 Stuff, 35 Month, 36 Trio, 37 Talc, 43 Reduce, 44 Alien, 46 Hail, 47 Stopper, 48 Obtain, 49 Alias, 50 Hogshead, 51 Equals, 52 Silhouette, 53 Eyes, 54 Theatre, 59 Smack, 60 File, 64 Swing, 65 Standard, 67 Rubella, 68 Risotto, 70 Gallop, 71 Mozart, 72 Iguana, 75 Right, 77 Empty, 78 Drain, 79 Save, 80 Coma. 5x5

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.

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